Watch Penguins’ Zatkoff reach back to make awesome stick save on Lightning’s Condra

News

Watch Penguins’ Zatkoff reach back to make awesome stick save on Lightning’s Condra

Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Jeff Zatkoff hasn’t played much this season, but he made the highlight-reel with a beautiful stick save in a relief appearance of Marc-Andre Fleury Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pittsburgh backup Jeff Zatkoff doesn’t get to play often, so when he does, he wants to make his minutes count. And while he couldn’t help the Penguins overcome a 4-1 deficit Friday, he did make an incredible stick save during Pittsburgh’s attempted comeback.

With the Penguins back within one goal late in the third period, the Lightning dumped the puck into the Penguins’ zone and Tampa Bay center Tyler Johnson gave chase. Johnson created some havoc below the goal line in his attempt to get the puck, which resulted in Penguins center Kevin Porter making an ill-advised pass into the middle of the ice, right onto the tape of Lightning winger Erik Condra.

Condra had no one between he and Zatkoff and used great patience to pull the puck around the Penguins goaltender. But Zatkoff, who committed to Condra’s deke early, reached back with his goal stick and sealed the ice with his paddle to make a great save:

Conrda’s reaction while down on the ice and as he skates away says it all. The chuckle from Condra speaks to how good the save was and his disbelief that Zatkoff was able to swat the puck away with his paddle.

Zatkoff’s spectacular effort was one of 13 saves he made in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury, who had been pulled after allowing four goals on 14 shots in little more than 29 minutes of action. It was only Zatkoff’s 11th appearance of the season and the second time he’s seen the net in 13 games.